Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks joined an elite club
When looking at the top young talent in the NBA, the Memphis Grizzlies are a mecca of sorts at the NBA level. For a large portion of the year, they were the youngest team in the league and still managed to put together a 38-win playoff season.
Their recent success is a testament to how well general manager Zach Kleimann has done via trades, draft picks, and other acquisitions throughout his short career.
To show for it, he has one of the youngest teams in the league that is way ahead of schedule in its rebuild. This past season, the Grizzlies knocked out the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors via the play-in tournament. They would continue to give the Utah Jazz a tough series, stealing a game in Salt Lake City.
Two of the Memphis Grizzlies’ star players stepped up to put their name in lights with incredible playoff performances
The Grizzlies’ unexpected late-season prowess can be attributed to a couple of names. The first is Ja Morant, one of the NBA’s most promising players.
Morant had a shaky year two in the league but managed to elevate his game when it mattered most. His poor 3-point shooting suddenly turned into a huge part of his game. He stepped up big in late-game moments.
Most importantly though, he stepped up as a scorer. Morant averaged a new Grizzlies’ playoff-high in scoring with 30.2 points per contest against the Utah Jazz. This made him one of just seven players under the age of 25 averaging over 25 points per game in this year’s playoffs. That number seven is a new NBA record at this point in the postseason.
But he wasn’t the only Memphis Grizzly who joined elite company.
Dillon Brooks would be the other, exploding on the offensive end in the playoffs, averaging 25.8 points per game while playing elite defense.
While Morant was expected to step up as this team’s leader, Brooks has become one of the league’s unexpected stars at the end of the season. His drive and mentality, specifically on the defensive end, are key to the Grizzlies’ success, as his serious demeanor has earned him the nickname “Villain” Brooks.
3 Grizzlies who need to improve their shooting. dark. Next
Expect these players to be headlining players in the next few years, as the Grizzlies should become a competitive team in this league’s playoffs.